Why High School Training Should Stay Simple and Linear
It’s easy to assume that high school athletes—especially in the summer—are primed to follow a structured training program. They’re young, adaptive, and finally have “free time.” But in reality, the best results often come from keeping training simple and linear. Here’s why:
1. Inconsistency is the norm.
Despite the plan saying 4–5 days per week, most kids average 2–3. Vacations, camps, games, late arrivals—they're constantly in and out.
2. You’re modifying everything anyway.
They show up sore from another sport, tired from travel, or halfway through a growth spurt. You end up scaling the workout or subbing in alternatives on the fly.
3. They don’t need complexity to make gains.
Linear progressions—just adding reps, sets, or load each week—work exceptionally well at this stage. They need reps, consistency, and movement quality.
4. Simplicity drives buy-in.
When kids understand the plan, they engage more. Confusion kills effort.
5. The coach needs flexibility.
A simple plan makes it easy to plug kids back in, adjust for multi-sport athletes, and keep the session moving—especially in large groups.
The point isn’t to “dumb it down.” It’s to meet kids where they are and build something sustainable. Linear training works not in spite of the chaos—but because of it.
